State Senate Democrats are threatening a government shutdown, if Republicans do not agree to their demands. This all has to do with passing a budget in an evenly-divided Senate.
Democrats are using the issue to try and force power sharing. The Senate is split 20-20 between parties but on most issues Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling can cast tie-breaking votes, giving Republicans an edge. But not on the budget.
Democratic Senate leaders Dick Saslaw and Donald McEachin sent a letter to the Republican leadership. The letter asks Republicans to allow both parties share power of the Senate Finance Committee, which is the committee responsible with putting together a budget.
But Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment responded with a letter of his own asking Democrats to put policy before politics and pass a budget.
3rd District Senator Tommy Norment (R) said, "There was not one specific budget amendment or suggestion that was contained in that letter. Only that we're not happy with the committee assignments and redo it."
9th district Senator Donald McEachin (D) said, "For them to assume that we're going to vote for a budget that funds public school education at levels lower than 2007 is ludicrous at best."
Sunday, all six members of the Senate Finance Committee voted against the Senate budget proposals. And all 20 Senate Democrats could follow suit when the budget comes up for a floor vote later this week.
If the Senate fails to pass a budget, they will consider the House version, which is even less likely to pass. No budget means no government come July 1.
